Agenda Item No.: 4.1 PLOT PLAN NO.: 23577 Supervisorial District: Fourth Applicant: Chuckwalla Valley Associates, LLC Project Planner: Judy Deertrack Directors Hearing: August 20, 2009 Environmental Assessment No. 41998 COUNTY OF RIVERSIDE PLANNING DEPARTMENT STAFF REPORT PROJECT DESCRIPTION AND LOCATION: The plot plan proposes to permit the operation of a private special-use airport, previously known as Desert Center Airport, consisting of one runway, a taxiway, and two small unmanned airport buildings, in conjunction with the construction and operation of a members-only road course racing facility to be built in multiple phases with three racetracks, club house, parking garages with view stands, administration buildings, a timing and scoring building, pit lanes, and 170-space parking area. In anticipation of grading the related tracks and built portions of the project, the project anticipates 300,000 cubic yards of cut/fill. ISSUES OF RELEVANCE: The project site is located on what was previously a public-use airport owned and operated by Riverside County, consisting of one runway, taxiway, two small historic buildings, and a Beacon Tower in an historic World War II training airfield known as Desert Training Center. The remainder of the property is currently vacant, native desert land. The project is located in a rural area surrounded by agricultural uses; open, undeveloped space (natural lands); and low-density, scattered residential properties. The Desert Center Airport is located in a remote and sparsely populated portion of the county situated approximately midway between Indio and Blythe, and nearby the community of Lake Tamarisk. The Redevelopment Agency for the County of Riverside was the previous owner of approximately 1,126 acres of property commonly known as the Desert Center Airport approximately three (3) miles north of the community of Desert Center, northeasterly of State Highway 177 (Desert Center – Rice Road). The Redevelopment Agency acquired the property from the County of Riverside on February 7, 2006, by Quitclaim Deed in approximately 1965 from the United States, acting through the General Services Administration. The Redevelopment Agency purchased the property from Riverside County in February, 2006, and subsequently sold the acreage to Chuckwalla Valley Associates, LLC, in October, 2006, contributing to the achievement of the Desert Center Airport Redevelopment Plan objectives. The objectives of the redevelopment effort is to eliminate existing conditions of blight by providing needed public improvements, where appropriate; and by encouraging rehabilitation and repair of deteriorated structures; by facilitating commercial and industrial development; and by promoting development in accordance with the Riverside County Comprehensive General Plan and applicable Airport Land Use Plans (Airport Land Use Commission Development Review, Exhibit A). The project has been found consistent with the 2004 Desert Center Airport Land Use Compatibility Plan, and will be operating under the State of California Airport Permit for a private, special-use airport, for day-use only, and operational only during times Track #1 is not in use, according to the restrictions placed upon the project by the Airport Land Use Commission (ALUC). The physical length of the airport strip is 4,200 feet. The airport operation is changing from public use under the County of Riverside operations, to private use. Based upon the recommendation of the Office of County Counsel, staff recommends that this matter be discussed and continued to a later date in order to review applicable provisions of the Disposition and Development Agreement (DDA) entered into between Chuckwalla Valley Associates, LLC, and the Redevelopment Agency for the County of Riverside. PLOT PLAN NO. 23577 DH Staff Report: August 20, 2009 Page 2 of 2 Because of the incomplete status of review, the conditions of approval and environmental assessment have not been attached to this staff report, nor has staff added a full project description or discussed the entire spectrum of issues of concern; nor has staff added the requisite findings and conclusions on project impact. SUMMARY OF FINDINGS: 1. Existing General Plan Land Use: Public Facilities (PF) 2. Surrounding General Plan Land Use: Open Space: Rural (OS:RUR) 3. Existing Zoning: Manufacturing – Heavy (M-H) and Controlled Development Area with Mobile Homes (W-2 M-1) 4. Surrounding Zoning: Light Agriculture (A-1); Controlled Development Area zoning (W-2); Scenic Highway Commercial (C-P-S); Natural Assets (N-A) 5. Existing Land Use: Vacant, desert Lands on a pre-existing historic military site and previous public-use county airport, with historic structures, airstrip, taxiway, and beacon tower. 6. Surrounding Land Use: Rural development surrounded by agricultural uses; open, undeveloped space (natural lands); and low-density, scattered residential properties. 7. Project Data: Total Acreage: Approximately 1,100 acres Total Existing Lots: Ten Access from State Highway 177 RECOMMENDATIONS: DISCUSS AND CONTINUE PLOT PLAN NO. 23577 to a later date at Lake Tamarisk Clubhouse in order for the applicant to conclude negotiations with the Riverside County Planning Department and Riverside County Redevelopment Agency on the implementation of the Disposition and Development Agreement for Desert Center Airport, and related matters. INFORMATIONAL ITEMS: 1. The subject site is currently designated as Assessor’s Parcel Number(s) 811-122-009; 006; 811- 170-012; 811-142-015; 016; 811-130-010; 811-180-025; 811-150-002; 004; 005. DA Y:\11_PLANNING Primary Folder\Planning Cases-Desert Office\PP23973\PP23973.SR.doc Date Prepared: 04/24/08 Date Revised: 05/29/08 .